How to Heal Your Skin & Naturally Glow: Part III

Today I share the last part of the series on getting beautiful, soft skin and leaving behind the misery and pain caused by skin conditions. You can read Part I and Part II here.

Grab a herbal tea and enjoy Part III...

Sweating

Getting your sweat on by doing movement that you love is a crucial way to eliminate toxicity from the body. If you have skin problems, you have toxicity.

Ideally you want to exercise outside, so that you are also exposed to fresh air and not stuck in an enclosed space with recycled, heated or air conditioned air. Sometimes this can be difficult to avoid, and if you enjoy working out inside then all the power to you, but the ideal way to sweat is in the great outdoors.

Depending on your skin health, you may not be able to sweat without pain. I certainly wasn’t able to for a long time due to my eczema being so painful. If this is the case, do not stress over it. Just focus whole-heartedly on elimination via your other channels, particularly the colon.

If you suffer from acne or other clogged skin conditions, it is a smart idea to wash your skin well after sweating to wash away any lingering bacteria and ensure your pores are open and clear to allow effective elimination.

Skin brushing and exfoliation

It’s so easy to neglect our skin. We can cover up all day long, load chemicals on to our skin externally and eat them so they poison us internally. Every day while you do this, your skin is shedding masses of dead skin cells and trying to push out unwanted toxins so that it can remain clear and healthy. Why not help it along with some dry skin brushing and exfoliation?

Dry skin brushing before you shower will clear the path for greater toxin removal and allow the skin to “breathe” better. It also helps to break down and reduce cellulite, wake up your circulation and stimulate your immune system. It’s even very energising and warming so it’s a great habit to get into when you first wake up before you shower!

You can also exfoliate when washing, but it doesn’t beat a few minutes of dry skin brushing. The latter will have greater health benefits for your body and your skin.

If you have irritated skin, eczema, psoriasis or another similar skin condition, it is best to avoid these areas. Instead focus on the areas which aren’t inflamed, or add dry skin brushing to your routine once your skin has improved from implementing the other tips. You’ll definitely notice the improvement in your skin quality and smoothness.

What you are thinking

Yes, even what you think can affect your skin health – dramatically so. If you are in the depths of depression, irritable, moody, allowing yourself to think negative thoughts or negative self-talk, you will really be limiting your body’s ability to heal and give you the luscious skin you want!

Have you read any Louise Hay? She has wonderful writings around the link between our thoughts and feelings and the physical symptoms we experience (this book in particular is a great resource and I also love this one).

Skin problems are so often a reflection of what we think and feel about ourselves, particularly a lack of self worth, poor self image, and a feeling of not being beautiful/good/slim/worthy enough.

Poor skin health is also very closely tied to how you deal with stress. Ask yourself how you are choosing to handle stress in your life and how you are choosing to respond to challenging situations.

Ask yourself what you think and feel about yourself and if your beliefs are for your highest good. Your answers will give you insight into the emotional and mental culprits behind your skin or other health issues so you can begin to heal on all levels. Here’s some tips on changing your habits.

Sleep

Lucky last is the beautiful healing tool of sleeping. If you’re not getting enough Z’s, you will be severely limiting your body’s ability to heal and regenerate. This is often the only time in a day when you stop eating, stop thinking about your to-do list, stressing, or any other behaviour which takes time and energy from your body’s healing mechanisms.

Aim for eight hours of sleep each night. More if you need it. If you can only get six hours, try for a mid afternoon nap. Obviously there are times when we get less sleep or we have so much on that sleep is relegated to a last priority, but if you really want radiant skin and great health, it must consistently be a big priority. Schedule it in, make it sacred and enjoy the peace.

If you implement each of the tips from this series, you will definitely notice a significant improvement in your skin and may in fact find your rashes, spots and pimples fade away. The key is to focus on making changes that you can consistently maintain so start with baby steps and add more as you feel able. This is the secret to long term results and more beautiful, softer skin even as you age.